State Dept. promises to punish North Korea if illicit satellite is launched
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The U.S. State Department has threatened to take further steps to punish North Korea if the rogue nation goes through with its planned spy satellite launch.
Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel addressed the issue regarding the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Wednesday in a press conference.
"Any DPRK launch that uses ballistic missile technology would also include [space launch vehicles] SLVs used to launch a satellite into space and that would violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," Patel told reporters.
"We had been very clear that we urge the DPRK to refrain from further threatening activity and call on Pyongyang to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy," Patel said of the planned launch.
"We have also been very clear about our unwavering commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, as well as seeking dialogue with Pyongyang without preconditions," the spokesman continued.
Patel alluded to a "number of tools" available to curb illicit North Korean activity, promising to crack down on the hermit kingdom if necessary.
"In terms of actions, we, of course, continue to have number of tools at our disposal to hold the DPRK accountable. You have seen us to take those steps and we will continue to do so," Patel said Wednesday.
Pyongyang’s claims of space capability remain dubious.
Fox News Digital's Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
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